Power scoop



April 6, 1948. R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,439,139

POWER SCOOP Filed Sept. 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 2?. GLeTburneau ATTORNEYS April 6, 1948. R. 6. LE TOURNEAU 2,439,139

POWER SCOOP Filed Sept. 3, 1946 3 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR R. 6.1: Yburneau ATTOR N EYS April 1948- R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,439,139

POWER SCOOP Filed Sept. 3, 1946 a Sheets- Sheet s INVENTOR ATTORNEYS R. G. Le 7burneaw Patented Apr. 6, 194a 2.439.139 rowan scoor OFFICE Robert G. La Tom-neon, Peoria, 111., assignor to G. Le Tom-neon, Inc Stoc kton, call! a corporation of California Application September 3, 1946, Serial No. 694.479 11 Claims. (01. 214 -120) This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an improved power scoop for the purpose of digging and loading earth or other material; the implement having a relatively great reach, substantial capacity, and advantageous maneuverability.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power scoop which includes, in novel assembly, a wheel supported elevator frame having a power actuated carriage movable up and down the same, and an outwardly projecting scoop mounted on the carriage for travel therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary scoop on the carriage; the scoop being of substantially semi-cylindrical configuration and mounted for rotation, about a transverse horizontal axis, between digging, carrying, and dumping positions.

An additional object is to provide novel power actuating means on the carriage for the rotation of the bowl between digging, carrying and dumping positions, selectively.

A further object of the invention is to mount the elevator frame for controlled outward tilting motion in a longitudinal vertical, plane so as to vary the reach of the scoop: the supporting wheels adjacent the tiltable elevator frame being positioned relative to the axis of tilting of the latter so that said wheels move in a direction opposite the direction of outward tilt to then provide greater clearance below the scoop.

A further object of the invention is to produce a practical device and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as willfullyappear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the power scoop as in use; the elevator frame being in its vertical position.

Figure 2 is a similar view but shows the elevator frame as tilted outwardly to increase the reach of the scoop.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken through the scoop and the adjacent frame mounted carriage.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the scoop and its cable actuating system.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the implement comprises a rigid longitudinally extending body I connected at its forward end to a tractor I II, and, if desired, for

2 by a coupling and power steering unit indicated generally at I. At its rear end the longitudinal body I is forked, as at l, and the fork is pivotal y connected at its rear ends, as at 5, to attachment ears 8 which upstand in transversely spaced relation from the front of a wheel truck 1, which is generally U-shaped in plan, and which truck includes rearwardly projecting legs 8 which carry spindle mounted wheels 9. By this arrangement it will be noted that the axis of the pivots 5 is disposed in substantial offset relation ahead of the axis of the wheels 9 for the purpose hereinafter described.

An upstanding elevator frame Id of substantial height is fixed at its lower end in connection with the truck 1 centrally between the wheels 9, and an elevator carriage H is roller supported in the elevator frame Ill for up and down movement. The supporting rollers for the elevator carriage H are shown at II. The elevator carriage II is power actuated to raise and lower said carriage selectively by means of the following: arrangement:

A reversible electric winch unit I 3 is fixed on the truck 1 between the fork 4; said winch unit including a cable drum It. A cable is leads from the drum ll upwardly over direction changing sheaves 16 in the elevator frame adjacent the top thereof. From the sheaves Hi the cable l5 depends to connection with the elevator carriage the purpose of greater actuating power, said depending portion of the cable may be reeved in the form of a block and tackle system.

By operation of the electric winch unit III in one direction or the other, the cable I5 is caused to raise or lower the carriage ll relative to the elevator frame l0.

The carriage II, at opposite ends thereof, is fitted with brackets I! which project outwardly lengthwise of the implement and a rotary scoop l8 extends between said brackets and is supported thereby by means of ball and socket units I 9. The rotary scoop I 8 is thus mounted on the carriage, in outwardly projecting relation, for rotation about a transverse horizontal axis.

The rotary scoop I8 is of substantially semicyllndrical configuration and includes end plates 20 and an arcuate back wall 2i of circumferential extent approximating 180 degrees. At its normally lowermost edge "of the rotary scoop I8 is provided with a transverse digging blade 22.

Through the control of an actuating cable system, hereinafter described, the rotary scoop I8 is movable, at the selection of the operator, between digging position... asin fulllines, carrying position; as in. broken lines,.and dumping osition,

as-in dottedlines; alias shown in Fig. 4. v Saidactuatinccsble. comprises a reversible electric-.winckunit- 23' mounted on the upper end of thercarriage andincluding a cable drum 24; said drum being disposed above the. scoop and in substantial vertical alinement with a direction changing sheave 25 mounted in the carriage below the scoop axis. The drum 24 and direction changing sheave 25 are alined in a plane substantially tangentialto the backwall 2| of This increase in clearance is enhanced by reason said scoop. A cable is reversibly wound about the drum 24 and includes cable reaches 26 and 21 which extends from opposite sides of said drum. The cable reach 26 extends to and about the direction changing sheave 25 and thence extends upwardly where both reaches 26 and 21 engage in reverse, lapping relation about the back Wall 2|. At their ends the cable reaches 26 and 21 are anchored, as at 28 and 29, respectively, to the back wall 2| at relatively widely spaced points circumferentially thereof.

Withrotation of the drum 24 in one direction or the other, the scoop I3 is caused to move between its respectivepositions, either clockwise or counter-clockwise, at the selection of the operator of the implement, which operator controls the reversible electric winch unit 23.

The upstanding elevator frame In is tiltable rearwardly lengthwise of the implement by reason of the pivotal connections 5 of the truck I with the body and such tilting of the elevator frame In is accomplished through the medium of a tilt control unit, indicated generally at 30; this unit comprising the following:

A tilt control beam 3| runs in guided relation through a central sheave block. 32 on the upper end of a postassembly 33 carried by the body The beam 3| is fitted with end sheave blocks 34 and 35, respectively, and the sheave block 34 is pivotally connected to the elevator frame, intermediate its ends, as at 36. Cable reaches 3lvare reversible wound in connection with a reversible electric winch unit 38 mounted on the body and said cable reaches' thence extend upwardly through the central sheave block 32, and are reeved between said sheave block and corresponding ones of the end. sheave blocks 34 and as opposed block and tackle systems 39. In other words, one of the cable reaches 31 is reeved between the central sheave block 32 and the end sheave block 34 as one block and tackle system while the other cable reach 31 is reeved as an opposed block and tackle system extending between the entral sheave block 32 and the end sheave block 35. Upon operation of the'winch unit 38 of the .fact that when. the elevator frame It is tilted in. one direction, the wheels. 9 relatively shift in an opposite direction: by reason of; the fact that the axis of pivots 5 is ahead of the wheel axis. This relative shifting of the wheels is for the purpose of providing greater clearance below the scoop I8, and is evident from a comparison of the relative positions of the scoop I8 and wheels 9 in Figs. 1 and 2.

After a load is taken into the scoop |8, the

latter is rotated to its upwardly open carrying position and the implement then moves' to the point of dumping. At such point the scoop l8 is rotated to its inverted dumping position and the load discharges therefrom. For loading trucks or the like, the truck moves under the scoop 3 so that when the latter dumps, the load falls into the truck body to be carried away.

The power scoop, as herein describedis convenient and easy to use for the reason that it can be readily manipulated from p ate place and additionally, adjustment of the scoop, 'both'as to elevation and reach, are accomplished by the tractor operator merely by control of the described reversible electric power winches. The mounting and operation of the scoopis such that it can work in places inaccessible to known power shovels.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the presentand preferred construction of thedevice, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A ower scoop comprising a wheel supp0rt-' ed body, an' upstanding elevator frame mounted in one direction or the other, one block and tackle system 39 lengthens and the other shortens, and in this manner effective tilting control of the elevator frame In is accomplished. The tilt control unit, as is indicated generally at 30, is the subject of eopending application, Serial No. 694,480, filed September 3, 1946.

The reversible electric winch units I3, 23' and.

onthe body adjacent one end thereof, an elevator carriage guidably mounted on the elevator frame, power means operative to raise and lower the carriage, an outwardly projecting scoop, means mounting the scoop on the carriage for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis between digging, carrying, and'dumpingpositions, said scoop including a digging". blade on: its normally lowermost edge, and othenpower means operative to rotate. the scoorrbetweerr said. positions, selectively; the scoop having a heel: wall concentric to the axis thereof, and said otheer power means including'a reversible. winch unit having a drum, a pair of cable; reaches ex-,-- tending in reverse relation from the drum, d i-- rectionchanging sheave means'arranged so that said reaches-liecircumferentially about saidbackwall in opposite directions, lapping-each, other;

and being dead ended to the scoopat relatively widely spaced points circumferentially thereof.

2. A power scoop comprising a wheel supported body, an upstanding elevator frame mounted on the body adjacent one end thereof, an elevator carriage guidably mounted on the elevator frame, power means operative to raise and lower the carriage, an outwardly projecting scoop, means mounting the scoop on the carriage for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis between digging, carrying, and dumping positions, said scoop including a digging blade on its normally lowermost edge, and other power means operative to rotate the scoop between said positions, selectively; the scoop having a circumferentially curved back wall, and said other power means including a pair of cable reaches having portions disposed in oppositely extending, lapping relation circumferentially about said back wall and a reversible power winch unit connected in opposed, reversible relation to said reaches;

3. A power scoop comprising a wheel supported body, an upstanding elevator frame mounted on the body adjacent one end thereof, an elevator carriage guidably mounted on the elevator frame, power means operative to raise and lower the carriage, an outwardly projecting scoop, means mounting the scoop. on the carriage for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis between digging, carrying, and dumping positions, said scoop including a digging blade on its normally lowermost edge, and other power means operative to rotate the scoop between said positions, selectively; the scoop having a circumferentially curved back wall, and said other power means including a pair of cable reaches extending substantially tangentially toward said curved wall but from opposite directions, and thence lapping and extending circumferentially about said wall to anchors on said wall at relatively widely spaced points circumferentially thereof.

4. A power scoop comprising a wheel supported body, an upstanding elevator frame mounted on the body adjacent one end thereof,-an elevator carriage guidably mounted on the elevator frame, power means operative to raise and lower the carriage, transversely spaced brackets fixed on the carriage and projecting outwardly therefrom, a rotary scoop disposed between and J'ournaled in connection with the brackets for rooutwardly therefrom, a rotary scoop disposed between and joumaled in connection with the brackets for rotation between digging, carrying,

and dumping positions, and other power means operative to rotate the scoop between said positions selectively; said other power means including an electric winch unit mounted on the carriage for travel therewith, and a cable system connected between the winch and said scoop.

7. A power scoop comprising a wheel supported body, an upstanding elevator frame mounted on the body-adjacent one end thereof, an elevator carriage guidably mounted on the elevator frame, power means operative to raise and lower the carriage, transversely spaced brackets fixed on the carriage and projecting outwardly therefrom, a rotary scoop disposed between and joumaled in connection with the brackets for rotation between digging, carrying, and dumping positions, a winch unit mounted on the carriage for travel therewith, the winch unit having a cable drum vertically spaced relative to the transverse axis of the scoop, a direction changing sheave on the carriage vertically spaced from said axis in the opposite direction, the scoophaving an arcuate back wall of substantially circumferential extent and said drum and sheave being substantially vertically alined in a plane adjacent said. back wall, a cable having a pair of reaches leading in reverse relation from the drum, one reach extending to and about said direction changing sheave tation between digging, carrying, and dumping positions, and other power means operative to rotate the scoop between said positionsselectively.

5. A power scoop comprising a wheel supported body, an upstanding elevator frame mounted on the body adjacent one end thereof, an elevator carriage guidably mounted on the elevator frame, power means operative to raise and lower the carriage, transversely spaced brackets fixed on the carriage and projecting outwardly therefrom, a rotary scoop disposed between and journaled in connection with the brackets for rotation between digging, carrying, and dumping positions, and other power means operative to rotate the scoop between said positions selectively; said other power means includinga winch unit mounted on the carriage for travel therewith, and a cable system connected between the winch and said scoop.

6. A power scoop comprising a wheel supported body, an upstanding elevator frame mounted on the body adjacent one end thereof, an elevator carriage guidably mounted on the elevator frame, power means operative to raise and lower the carriage, transversely spaced and both reaches thence engaging in reverse, lapping relation about said arcuate back wall, and means anchoring said reaches to the back wall at circumferentially and relative widely spaced points thereon.

8. A power scoop comprising a longitudinal body adapted at one end for connection to a tractor, a wheel truck adjacent the other end of the body including a transversely spaced pair of supporting wheels, means pivoting the truck to the body for relative pivotal movement in a longitudinal, vertical plane, an elevator frame fixed on and upstanding from the truck, the frame thus being tiltable in said plane, an elevator carriage on the elevator frame, power means to raise or lower the carriage, a longitudinally and outwardly projecting scoop mounted on the carriage, and power actuated tilt control means connected between the elevator frame and the body.

9. A power scoop comprising a longitudinal body adapted at one end for connection to a tractor, a wheel truck adjacent the other end of the body including a transversely spaced pair of supporting wheels, means pivoting the truck to the body for relative pivotal movement in a longitudinal, vertical plane, an elevator frame fixed on and upstanding from the truck, the frame thus being tiltable in saidplane, an elevator carriage on the elevator frame, power means to raise or lower the carriage, a longitudinally and outwardly relative pivotal movement in a longitudinal, vertical plane, an elevator frame fixed on and upstanding from the truck, the frame thus being tiltable in said plane, an elevator carriage on the elevator frame, power means to raise or lower the carriage, a longitudinally and outwardly projecting scoop mounted on the carriage, and power actuated tilt control means connected between the elevator frame and the body.

11. A power scoop comprising a longitudinal body adapted at one end for connection to a. tractor, a wheel truck adjacent the other end of the body, said wheel truck being generally U- shaped in plan and including transversely spaced legs carrying wheels adjacent their outer end, means pivoting the wheel truck to said other end of the body for pivotal movement in a longitudinal, vertical plane, the axis of said pivotal movement being adjacent the other ends of said legs, an elevator frame fixed on and upstanding from the truck, the frame thus being tiltable in said plane, an elevator carriage on the elevator frame,

power means to raise or lower the carriage, a longitudinally and outwardly projecting scoop mounted on the carriage, and power actuated tilt control means connected between the elevator frame and the body.

ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

